Bennell charged after NYE brawl

Gold Coast Suns player Harley Bennell has been charged by police after being arrested following a disturbance during New Year's Eve celebrations in Mandurah, Western Australia.

Bennell, who was the second player picked in the 2010 draft, was charged with disorderly behaviour in a public place and failure to obey an order from an officer about 2:15am (local time).

The 20-year-old utility player will appear before the Mandurah Magistrates Court on January 15, 2013.

"About 2:15am this morning police were called to the Smart Street Mall in Mandurah and located a group of people in the vicinity of the nearby nightclubs, with a number of those people being disorderly and fighting," a police statement said.

Bennell has made 36 appearances over the past two years for the Suns and finished second in the club's best and fairest behind Gary Ablett in 2012.